§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, with a view to improving Anglo-Irish relations, he will reconsider the request of Irish Republican category 'A' prisoners held in English prisons to be450W transferred to Northern Ireland to alleviate the suffering and hardship caused to their families; and whether there are any plans to close a high security prison in Northern Ireland due to the dwindling prison population in the Province.
§ Mr. Peter LloydRequests by prisoners for permanent transfer to Northern Ireland are considered in the light of the criteria set out in the reply by my right hon. Friend to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on Friday 23 June 1989 at column263. These criteria, which do not distinguish between category A and other inmates, deal not only with the circumstances of the inmate in question but also with any family circumstances which may be put forward in support of a transfer request. It is open to any inmate whose transer request is refused to make a fresh application which would be considered in the light of the criteria and the circumstances applying at the time of the fresh request.
Prisons in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from whom I understand that there are currently no plans to close any prison establishment in the Province.